Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Portugal0 - 0France

sportsmole.co.uk, 6 July 2024, 08:49
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that it is still too early for Cristiano Ronaldo to come to a decision on his international future following the Selecao's gut-wrenching Euro 2024 exit to France.

In Friday's second quarter-final - a repeat of the 2016 showpiece which Portugal won 1-0 - Ronaldo once again featured from the first whistle but saw his scoring struggles continue at the Volksparkstadion.

However, all of the 39-year-old's Portuguese colleagues and French foes also failed to light the blue-touch paper, as there were no goals to be had over the course of 90 or 120 minutes in Hamburg.

The penalty edge seemingly belonged to Portugal, who dumped Slovenia out of the tournament on spot kicks thanks to Diogo Costa's historic treble save, while France were eliminated from the last 16 of Euro 2024 by Switzerland from 12 yards.

While Ronaldo went two for two in shootout penalties - placing his effort perfectly into the bottom corner - Joao Felix could only strike the post, and Costa was unable to replicate his last-16 heroics as France scored with all five of their efforts.

Martinez makes "raw" admission after Euro 2024 exit

As Ronaldo and Portugal crashed out, the 39-year-old was left to lament his first major international tournament where he failed to score a single goal, and he has already confirmed that he will not be playing in another Euros.

It is still unclear whether Ronaldo intends to continue for the upcoming Nations League campaign or push for the 2026 World Cup - by which time he will be 41 - but Martinez was understandably pressed on his future after the game.

However, the Selecao boss refused to give anything away with a rather curt response, telling the press: "No. Everything is too raw. We are still suffering the defeat. There's no individual decisions at this point."

Ronaldo is believed to be keen to play at the 2026 World Cup after appearing at a record six European Championships, and he could become the first male player to play at six World Cups should he be selected for the next edition.

Lionel Messi - who should almost certainly continue for the next World Cup - would also make his sixth appearance in the USA, though, while Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa could add to his total of five tournament appearances too.

Time for Ronaldo to call it a day

Ronaldo's relentless pursuit of individual stardom - even at the age of 39 - could be seen as admirable by some and painful to witness by others, as he is evidently not the same five-time Ballon d'Or winner he once was.

The Portugal skipper is still finding the net for fun in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr and should not be hanging up his club boots any time soon, but there is nothing to gain from prolonging his international pain.

Even when he was playing poorly at the Euros and missing chance after chance, it did not even cross Martinez's mind to take him off the pitch - barring in their inconsequential final group loss to Georgia - and his teammates may feel a pressure to pass the ball to him even when the opportunity is not on, such is his fearsome status.

Less esteemed players would no doubt not be afforded the same luxury when it comes to lasting the full 90, and it is not as if clinical attackers are in short supply for Portugal, who had Diogo Jota and Goncalo Ramos restricted to bit-part roles in Germany.

It is not as if Ronaldo is calling it a day with a modest international record to his name - just the 130 goals and 47 assists from 212 matches - and the time is nigh to hand the torch over to the new generation.

Top News

17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have been linked with moves for four players who will be out of contract at the end of the summer, as they seek to be careful with their finances once again. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed he rejected a mammoth €250m (£208m) bid for Lamine Yamal from Paris Saint-Germain over the summer. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atlanta United's quest for a playoff spot goes down to the wire as they journey to the Inter & Co Stadium to take on Orlando City in the MLS regular season finale on Saturday. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jordan Pickford will reportedly face a fight to keep hold of the England number one jersey when Thomas Tuchel takes over as manager. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Portsmouth will look to end their wait for their first win of the season when they face Queens Park Rangers in Saturday's Championship clash. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta Rotterdam and Almere City are back in Eredivisie action when they go head-to-head at the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel on Saturday afternoon in gameweek nine. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Matchday nine of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season sees two teams in need of a lift face off as NEC entertain the challenge of Heerenveen at Stadion de Goffert on Saturday evening. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Needing one point to secure post-season football, DC United play host to Charlotte FC at Audi Field in the final game of the 2024 MLS regular season on Saturday. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford boss Thomas Frank has revealed that Yoane Wissa could be available for Saturday's Premier League clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RKC Waalwijk will be looking to kickstart what has been a disastrous 2024-25 Eredivisie campaign so far when they welcome FC Twente to the Mandemakers Stadion on Saturday. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Securing a third straight victory will be the major target for in-form Go Ahead Eagles and Feyenoord as they prepare to face off at De Adelaarshorst on Saturday evening. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AZ Alkmaar and PSV Eindhoven return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the AFAS Stadion in round nine of the Eredivisie. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could be missing a full team of players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth, as multiple injury victims were not seen in Thursday's batch of training images. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Dallas and Sporting Kansas City draw the curtains on their 2024 MLS regular campaign when they go head to head at the Toyota Stadium on Saturday. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Round nine of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig will commence with Kayserispor hosting Gaziantep at the Kadir Has Sehir Stadi on Saturday. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion will be without at least four players for Saturday's Premier League clash against Newcastle United at St James' Park. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United could be without up to eight first-team players for Saturday's Premier League clash against Brighton & Hove Albion at St James' Park. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams level on points in the Premier League table do battle at St James' Park on Saturday afternoon as Newcastle United play host to Brighton & Hove Albion. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both Trabzonspor and Istanbul Basaksehir will be aiming to return to winning ways when they face off in a 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig clash at Papara Park on Saturday. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa have injury concerns for seven first-team players ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham will assess the fitness of Sasa Lukic and Joachim Andersen ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Aston Villa at Craven Cottage. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa will be looking to climb back into the top four of the Premier League when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday afternoon. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams at opposite ends of the Turkish Super Lig table will clash when Antalyaspor host Galatasaray at the New Antalya Stadium on Saturday. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany is confident that the Premier League champions will take full advantage of Wolverhampton Wanderers' defensive frailties at Molineux on Sunday. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have revealed that Kobbie Mainoo will be missing "for a few weeks" with the muscular problem that he suffered during the goalless draw with Aston Villa last time out. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten Lionel Messi to the title of highest-paid footballer in 2024, according to Forbes. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mainz 05 welcome an undefeated RB Leipzig to Mewa Arena in gameweek seven, seeking to halt the progress of a side looking to become standalone leaders atop the Bundesliga table after Saturday's match. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Freiburg could end gameweek seven atop the Bundesliga table after hosting 13th-placed Augsburg at Europa-Park-Stadion on Saturday. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool and Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing Inter Milan enforcer Nicolo Barella. 17 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Northampton Town will look to end a run of three consecutive league defeats when they welcome Leyton Orient to Sixfields on Saturday.